Can Still Available Break Through On Saturday?

By Jeff Collerson
Still Available has had no luck with two thirds and a fourth in three Wentworth Park starts but gets his chance to break through after drawing box one in Saturday night's McMillan Lightning Lap Stakes, a 520m fifth grade.

Still Available's third behind Zipping Sylvia and Kade at his most recent Wentworth Park appearance on May 24 was his best performance at headquarters and while he missed a race due to last Saturday's washed-out meeting the dog is ready for this week's contest.

"Because he was so full of himself through not racing on Saturday, I took him to Dapto on Monday and Still Available trialed 29.90 over the 520m trip,'' trainer Garry Coles said.

"Even from box one he is likely to miss the jump slightly but he will hunt up quickly from the rails.

"Still Available clocked 29.82 getting beaten when third at his last Wenty run so I can't expect much more of him than that.''

It has always seemed a matter of time before Still Available won at Wentworth Park as when Coles gave the dog his first look at the track, in a post-to-post hand-slip, he clocked a fast 24.20 and ran home in a flying 11.55.

Reaction Jaxon bungled the start completely when fourth at his most recent Wentworth Park outing on May 25 and trainer Mitch Conquest believes his dog only has to step away cleanly to go close to winning Saturday night's Battlers Stakes, a 520m fifth grade.

When beaten just two lengths into fourth place on May 25, Reaction Jaxon ran wide on the first turn and wanted to go around his rivals on the back straight.

"Yes, he doesn't like to go under his opponents,'' Conquest said.

"But after he flopped out of the boxes at his last Wenty race I gave him some box work and he jumped a lot better at Bulli on Tuesday night.

"He was second away and chased the winner all the way to be runner-up in a 400m race.''

Sergis Banner has good early speed and is a keen railer but despite drawing box five can lead all the way in Saturday night's Opal & Classic Heats June 29 Stakes, a 520m fifth grade.

A winner of six from 11 provincial appearances, Sergis Banner has trialled a slick 30sec at Wentworth Park.

Trainer Kim Mulrine said: "I expect her to be the pacemaker because she has good early speed.

"She missed a race at Wenty through last Saturday's rain so I took her to Appin on Tuesday and gave her a trial.

"Sergis Banner didn't run particularly fast time but I didn't expect her to do so because she is not suited by straight tracks, she goes best around a circle.

"The hit-out at Appin was just a conditioning run for Saturday night and it topped her off nicely.

"I think her big danger though is her litter brother Boston Banner who has box seven.''

Greg Hore trains five of the eight runners in Saturday night's Vale Ron Oldfield Stakes, a 520m fifth grade, but plumps for Sunshine Gal (box four) and Siska Roy (box five) as his best chances.

Hore also has Big Zach, Astro Lee and Tilly Hawke in boxes six, seven and eight.

"Having five in the same race is not ideal but I'd rather see them that way and  in their correct grade than being used up in a higher class race,'' Hore said.

"I was happy with Sunshine Gal's last run at Wentworth Park when she finished fourth to Steal A March on May 31 and she was a solid runner-up over 520m at Nowra on Monday.

"Siska Roy broke through for his first win in 23 starts at Nowra on Monday and surprised me at how well he went.

"He clocked 29.80 beating his kennelmate Siska Lucy, a bitch of whom I have a high opinion, and being drawn away from the fence on Saturday is okay because Siska Roy will want to get off the track.''

Rhyno's Magic gave trainer Terry Sainty a Wentworth Park winner with his first starter at the track when she won on April 26 and she has drawn ideally in box one in Saturday's Ladbrokes Sports Bar Stakes, a 520m fifth grade.

Rhyno's Magic finished down the course at The Gardens on Wednesday after missing the jump from box eight and being badly hampered at the first turn but will relish having the inside trap on Saturday.

Sainty, who has been training for just two years, bought Rhyno's Magic as a five-week-old puppy and has won five races with her.

"My wife Lynda and I had her reared for us in the Hunter Valley and then we pre-trained and educated her ourselves,'' Sainty said.

"Rhyno's Magic is in a strong field on Saturday but box one gives her a chance.''

Best Bet Still Available (race 4)
Best Value Sergis Banner (race 6)

Quaddie
Race 5 - 1, 5, 7
Race 6 - 5, 7, 8
Race 7 - 2, 6
Race 8 - 1, 4, 5
$20 for 37.03%